Escaping to the wilderness to relax and slow down has been a key part of my life. I still have many places to explore in this great state, however, the proposed helium drilling in the Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness Area frightens me that the wilderness we have left will be degraded to the point of no return.
Labyrinth Canyon was supposed to be protected under the Dingell Act. However, the company Twin Bridges lobbied just before it was signed into law to get last-minute approval to drill in this ecologically unique area, all so they can turn short-term profits.
The Trump administration’s agenda to drill everywhere as soon as possible is not sustainable for Utah or the country. Currently, this agenda disallows public participation, and it is imperative that public participation is a key part of the decision-making process.
This unsustainable and undemocratic idea should be left behind. Instead, the next presidential administration should focus on publicizing the process by encouraging the public and local scientists who know the area best to speak up. A strategy that incentivizes renewable resources and conserves precious wilderness areas will go a long way to reaching international goals to save biodiversity in a proactive manner. This is so we do not have to piece together broken ecosystems merely because we couldn’t control ourselves, rushed the process, or simply didn’t listen. Instead, Congress can help by supporting legislation that saves wilderness, like America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act.
For the sake of the serenity and ecological wonders that Labyrinth Canyon provides for anyone who wishes to see its beauty, the public should refuse this environmental destruction by utilizing the public comment period that is open until Monday, November 9th.
We must save the wilderness we have left.
Emma (Katherine) Lowe, Salt Lake City
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible